Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
She parked the truck in her driveway and both women slid out of the cab. She caught up Molly’s bag from the bed. “You can see why I’m reluctant to start another relationship. It’s kind of hard to believe what he says.”
Molly nodded. “It’s very understandable. Have you told Joshua?”
Sonia unlocked the door and pushed it open, stepping back to allow Molly to precede her inside. “No. I was afraid if I told either of you, something bad could happen to you if they found me. I think I’m safe, but I don’t know for certain. Still, I know I have to tell him. It isn’t something you just walk up to a man and say.”
Molly’s soft laughter somehow made that terrible pressure in Sonia’s chest disappear. “Hey, babe,” she said. “I forgot to tell you. I may or may not be married to a Russian mobster. He’s out to kill me and he favors bombs and torture. Still, I’m really cute so I’m the girl for you.” She made a face. “He’s going to run for the hills, and that’s the best-case scenario.”
Molly’s laughter, which had swelled in volume, ended abruptly. “What’s the worst?”
Sonia sobered instantly, her heart accelerating. “He’ll sell the information of my whereabouts to my father-in-law. They’d pay a lot of money to find me.” She glanced at Molly and then at the floor, a little ashamed that she’d been afraid to tell her for the same reason.
“Sonia,” Molly said softly. “I was afraid to tell you or anyone else anything. I’m still freaked out that Bastien knows. And those two men. Your bodyguards.”
Sonia winced. “Don’t call them that. They’re not mine anyway. They’re part of a security team Joshua runs. I don’t know why he insists on having them follow me around, but in this case, it was a good thing. They know what they’re doing when it comes to this kind of problem. They’ve been all over the world taking back kidnap victims. I’ve overheard Kai and Gray talking and they definitely aren’t lying. They’ve done it. They also talk about Joshua and how he’s so good at slipping into camps unseen and gathering the information needed to get hostages out. If they can do this, surely they can handle Blake Garritson.”
“Maybe Joshua suspects you’re in danger, just the way Bastien suspected with me. I tried not to look at him because he’s a cop and he’s all wrong for me, but he kept coming around. Now I realize, it was all about his gut, his detective instincts that made him look interested.”
“Yeah, that was it,” Sonia said, smirking at Molly as she closed the door and locked it, just to be safe. Kai would be there soon, and she had Gatita to warn her, but she didn’t want to take any chances with Molly’s life. “Bastien Foret was willing to take on both Kai and Gray just because you were crying.”
Molly put her hand to her face. “Is my mascara running? Why do I always look awful when that man comes around?”
“As if you could ever look awful. I was thinking of doing you in myself when I saw you looking hot while you were crying. You’re like one of those women on a soap opera, looking even prettier with tears in your eyes.”
Molly laughed, the sound surprising both of them. Some of the fear faded from her face. “Bastien is really a good guy, don’t you think? He didn’t sound like he’d turn me over to Blake without first investigating and finding out what really happened.”
“Is there evidence of your broken ribs and arm?”
“X-rays were taken at his doctor friend’s clinic. We went there after hours. After that the doctor would come to the house.”
“Were you ever alone with the doctor? Did you try to talk to him?”
“Blake was always in the room. He insisted on being with us. I know he was paying his friend, but the doctor was angry with him. He might testify, although it would mean his license. I think there was more than money between the two of them.”
“Do you know if Blake was seeing someone before you? You couldn’t have been his first girlfriend.” She carried Molly’s bag into the guest room. “Sorry about the mess. I haven’t had time or the money to fix these rooms. There’s heat, though, and the bed is nice. Just keep your eyes closed and don’t look at the walls.” Sonia scowled, looking down at the floor. “This room really needs work.”
“So does your roof. This is fine. I feel safe here with you, especially if Joshua has a couple of his hotshot security team members watching over you.”
Sonia rolled her eyes. “I think he assigns them jobs to keep them from being bored. Watching me go to work and come home must be super-exciting after rescuing kidnap victims and hostages in exotic places. I think if they don’t get a legitimate job soon, there’s going to be a rebellion.”